Will and well are popular English words used in everyday contexts. So, you probably know what they imply. An extensive overview of will vs. well explains these words in depth.
Will refers to the mental faculty by which a person can deliberately choose between various courses of action. It also means “diligent purposefulness, self-control, or determination.” In contrast, “well” refers to a deep hole or shaft dug into the earth to gather resources like water, gas, or oil.”
The difference between these words seems quite simple. You can tell it from their spellings. However, read the rest of this article to learn more about these words.
Definitions Of Will And Well
Both words have several definitions. So, we scoured the internet and offline sources for a comprehensive list of definitions. Here are some of the definitions:
Definitions Of Will
As a noun, “will” refers to “the mental faculty by which a person intentionally chooses a course of action.” In simpler terms, a “will” is a deliberate intention or wish.” An example in a sentence is, “It is her will to get married to the older man.”
Another definition for “will” is “diligent purposefulness or determination.” An example sentence is, “The counsel looks for a participant with the will to win despite the hurdles.”
In another context, “will” means “self-control or self-discipline.” In a sentence, “Elizabeth’s strong will allows her to accomplish her governmental duties.”
“Will” refers to “a desire, purpose, or determination to a person or an entity in authority.” An example in a sentence is, “It is the president’s will that his son joins the Democrat political party.”
Other sources define the word ‘will” as “free discretion, inclination, or pleasure.” Here is an example in a sentence, “The newly-released prisoner wandered about the mall, guided by his will while enjoying his newly-found freedom.”
The word “will” means “bearing or attitude towards others,” like disposition. An example in a sentence is, “He gave up his entire year’s salary out of John’s good will.”
In Law, the word “will” means “a legal declaration of how a person wishes their possessions or property to be disposed of after death.” It is also a noun for “a legally executed document containing the declaration (as explained above). For instance, “The lawyer asked June to sign her father’s will after the funeral.”
As a transitive verb, will means “to intend or decide.” For example, “His intense will allowed him to finish the race even after the difficulty at the beginning.”
As an auxiliary verb, the word “will” means “disposed or willing to do in future.” For example, “The students will do the right thing at the end of the day.”
Definitions Of Well
As a noun, the word “well” refers to “a deep hole or shaft dug into the earth’s surface to obtain resources like water, gas, or oil.” In a sentence, “The well is deep enough for the mining to begin.”
A well is “a container or reservoir for storing liquid like water or ink.” For example, “The well should be full before the guests arrive.”
A well is “a watering place, like a spa.” For example, “The well is one of the most beautiful places.”
A well is a place where water comes from the earth, like a spring or fountain. In a sentence, “The well has run dry after several years of drought.”
The word “well” also refers to “an abundant source.” For example, “The library is a well of information.”
This word also refers to “an open space extending vertically through the floors of a building, like stairs or ventilation.” For example, the open well in the ventilation will influence the home’s insulation properties.”
As an adverb, “well” means “morally or properly or meticulously done” For example, “The students behave well in the presence of guests” or “They completed the difficult task well.”
As an adjective, this word means “in good health, satisfactory, pleasing, or good.” For example, “My son Adrian is not well.”
How To Properly Use Will And Well In A Sentence
Will and well are pretty exciting words because they have several definitions. This section explains how you can apply all these definitions when using these words in a sentence.
How To Use The Word Will
Will is an auxiliary verb, also known as a helping verb. So, you can use it in a sentence to help another verb express its voice, mood, or tense. An example is, “She will play with her kids in the afternoon.” In this example, “will” explains the verb tense, the “future” tense.
Besides this, you can also use this word as a verb in the following contexts:
- To choose to do something
- To give by way of a will after death
- To wish
- To mentally cause to happen
- To be certain
- To reach a decision
- To cause someone to do something
Besides being a verb, this word is also a noun. Therefore, you can use it as a noun in the following contexts:
- To refer to a legal document with instructions on the distribution of one’s possessions after death
- One’s thought processes
- Something one desires
- A deliberate choice
- Mental strength, self-control, or self-discipline
- A person’s moral or emotional nature
How To Use The Word Well
You can use this word in a sentence as a noun in the following contexts:
- A source of water from a hole
- An abundant source of supply
- A passage within a structure
- A hollow space in a solid body
Use this word as an adjective in a sentence in the following contexts:
- In good health
- In an acceptable position
- Bearing no injuries
- Competent
- Experiencing satisfaction
As an adverb, use this word in the following contexts:
- In a pleasing manner
- In an appropriate way
- In a kind or thorough manner
- Denoting a close relationship
- In all likelihood
Also, use this word as an interjection in a sentence in the following contexts:
- To fill gaps
- To acknowledge a situation before a preposition
- To express contrary opinions
- To express indignance
Will Vs. Well: A Detailed Comparison
There is more to say about these interesting words. Here are some detailed comparisons you need to know.
Part Of Speech
One of the connections between these words is their diversity. For instance, the word well is a noun, adjective, adverb, and verb. On the other hand, will is a noun and a verb.
Pronunciation
The words “will” and “well” are both mono-syllables. So, their pronunciations are also quite simple. The correct pronunciation for “will” is “/wil/,” while the proper pronunciation for “well” is “/wel/.”
History
The word “will” comes from the Old English word “willian,” meaning “to determine by an act of choice.” In the mid-15th century, this word took on the legal meaning “dispose of by will or testament.” In contrast, the word comes from the Old English “wielle,” meaning “spring of water or fountain.”
List Of Examples Of Will And Well Use In Sentences
Now let us look at some example sentences. All the examples allow you to practice using these words.
Example sentences of the word will
- It was Mary’s will to leave her parents behind and move to Mexico.
- June’s strong will saw her through the toughest challenges in her life.
- She decided out of her independent will.
- It is my father’s will that I join his alma mater.
- The lawyer will read my mother’s will on Thursday.
Example sentences of the word well
- The well is finally dry.
- The archive is a well of information.
- After months of medical troubles, the teacher is finally well.
- I hope everything goes well with her.
- Jane did not take well to the news.
Conclusion
Well and will are similar words because of their diversity and related spellings. However, their definitions are not related. This article explains this in-depth. What is the most exciting element about this word that this article has taught you?
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.